Is it unlucky to change a horses name?

Suec04

Suec04

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as the title suggests really....

I was always told this when I was growing up. I have seen some beautiful horses for sale with some names that I'm not fond of, for one reason or another (not that I would disregard a horse because of its name!) and wondered what the opinions of others are? I'm talking stable names, not registered passport names.
 
I changed my youngsters name from Prince to Oakley :) not really had him long enough to know if it's bad luck but i'm not at all superstitious my mum however was not a happy bunny!
 
I changed mine. He feels very annoyed, as his old stable name wasn't great, but his new one is geeky...:D

No bad luck here. Just the usual horse related woes/injuries.
 
It's bad luck? whoops ! I've changed the names of all of my horses ! nothing bad has happened, so I'd say no! and it has been a few years.
 
I wouldn't change a passport name, especially if it had reference to a stud/ family line. I would change a stable name as long as the horse was happy to respond to it.

But equally, I don't really give a toss about names and just roll with it- after Ebony (pure white...) pretty much anything goes!
 
ok, so does an older horse not recognise his name then? I guess if you changed it to something similar then it wouldn't matter so much? I'm just curious really. of the three horses I have owned, I only liked the name of one but never changed the names of others...just in case :D
 
I changed the name of my gelding and I have had nothing but bad luck with him. Thought one of his conditions (kissing spine) must have been pre existing and so I don't think the name change had anything to do with it. I have also changed the name of my new girl. She had a 'nickname' given to her by the stud, but it was awful so I've changed it to a proper name that I think suits her.
 
I kept my mare's name because I happened to like it - if I didn't I would have had no qualms changing it. No point being stuck with a name you really don't like, although I'm sure they can grow on you in time!
 
I changed my latest from Prudence (I couldn't see myself calling Prude or Prudey!) To Mia and whilst we've had some fun and games I can't put that down to the name change!
 
My girl was called Tina (after Tina Turner as her sire is 'Simply The Best' & she had to be turned when being foaled) but she's not a Tina sort of horse...not sure any horse would be tbh!... so I dropped the n and call her Tia. No bad luck so far *touches wood* lol :)
 
my mare was called Kelly when her previous owner got her, they changed it to Kelsey, which I much prefer!

I did want to buy a horse called Kerry a few years ago, but surely it would be weird to have a horse with the same name as me haha??
 
Haha I have to admit that as ridiculous as it sounds, I personally wouldn't risk it - seem to find enough bad luck with horses as it is! I'm not a suspicious sort but I had it drummed into me as a child as it's obviously stuck with me.
 
I changed my boy's name from Blue (he had two blue eyes) to Bo (as in Mr Bojangles) and had nothing but back luck. Of course it was coincidence but having had him PTS eventually at only 8, I would never change a horse's name again - just not worth tempting any more bad fortune than us horse owners already experience!! ;-)
 
I'm not in the least bit superstitious, and I changed the name of my first horse as soon as I handed the cash over.

Within 20 minutes, his behaviour had changed and he bucked me off. Bucked me off again every time he was ridden over the next few weeks, then he was kicked in the field and had 6 months box rest, then returned to work and bucking, was diagnosed with KS and SI issues, and eventually was PTS more than a year after I bought him.

I'll never change a horse's name again...!
 
I changed my boys name because he came to the dealer I bought him from with no stable name (later found out he was called "Cookie" which I don't think suits him anyway), and mum's mare had her name changed from Bella to Pippa because there were 2 horses called Bella already on the yard at the time. Neither of us has had any problems :)
 
I changed mine. When I came to insure him as I was arranging purchase I realised that I could not possibly insure a horse that was called "The Tw*t"!! I had to ring the previous owner to find the name on the passport as that was all they referred to him as.
Now called Jay he is kind and generous, so I guess it was lucky for him!!!
 
Kept my mares name when i got her as suited her. When I took on my 8yr old couple mths ago unfortunately he has the same stable name as our dog lol but reacts to it so no didn't change it.
 
I never change their registered names and I usually keep their barn names. It doesn't usually bother me what their names are and as I have so many I'm useless at thinking up names so it's easier to just leave them with their names. I actually quite like some of the really wacky names some of mine have/ had.
 
I changed my mares stable name eheb I bought her. The first six months of owning her was hell, she was extremely difficult, but now she's fab and I wouldn't swap her for the world so no, I don't think it's bad luck.
 
Red-1 said:
I changed mine. When I came to insure him as I was arranging purchase I realised that I could not possibly insure a horse that was called "The Tw*t"!! I had to ring the previous owner to find the name on the passport as that was all they referred to him as.
Now called Jay he is kind and generous, so I guess it was lucky for him!!!
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this made me giggle :-D . I think I would have risked it and changed his name too in these circumstances! thank you for sharing :-)
 
Thank you all for your replies. A real mixed opinion and I'm glad I'm not the only one who is hesitant to change a horses name. I think I will just go with the flow and see what I end up with, maybe only consider changing it if it is REALLY bad :-D
 
I haven't and wouldn't consciously change a horses name, but my girls all answer to 'girls', and any boys in with them come to that call quite nicely too... and my boy gets called by a nickname that appears slightly random but there is logic in my head as to how it is related to his proper name so it's ok!
 
My veteran (36) has only just started responding to his name in the last 2/3 years! Otherwise no, not bad luck. Two of mine are often called by nicknames (one's nickname is now his 'every day' name for the past 8 years) and respond to the lot - no bad luck either! I wouldn't change their names now, but they will no doubt pick up more as time goes on.
 
Ceriann said:
I changed my latest from Prudence (I couldn't see myself calling Prude or Prudey!) To Mia and whilst we've had some fun and games I can't put that down to the name change!
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My best friend's horse was called Prudence Kitten, she was a fancy palomino and it really suited her! We called her Pru for short.

I've only changed one name, on my cob mare as a 13 year old. I changed it from Topsy to Polly. And we didn't get on AT ALL. So I haven't done it since despite not liking the names I've been saddled with. My new girl is called Poppet (she absolutely is deserving of this name) but I call her Pops for short as it's a bit girly. I think shortening doesn't affect the luck element - at least not so far!
 
I sort of changed my horse’s name.

Her registered/passported name is “Lucky Lane Bay Leaf”, when I bought her she was called Bay Leaf and although not frightful I really didn’t want to be standing in a field shouting it! So, I changed her stable name to Bailey, it sounds similar to Bay Leaf and makes sense with her registered name. It’s simple enough for entry forms etc although the only issue is that people assume she’s a gelding now! :D

No bad luck has occurred here what so ever, in fact very much the opposite! :D
 
Seriously thinking of changing a name if we have this horse... He has a registered name Don't Look Back in Anger but the owner just called him Boy in the stable....Cos he is a boy!!!!! Trouble is he does answer to Boy and i definately don't want any bad luck.
 
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